Renowned Expert Joins Again, Writing a New Chapter in Heavy Ion Development

Renowned Expert Joins Again, Writing a New Chapter in Heavy Ion Development

On August 8, Professor Yu Zhilong, a radiotherapy expert from the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University and consultant at the CNNC Heavy Ion Consultation Center, commenced regular duties at the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital. His appointment injects new momentum into the center’s development in oncology treatment.

Professor Yu Zhilong, a Chief Physician and Master’s Supervisor, holds pioneering roles as Founding Chair of the Radiology Oncology Branch of the Inner Mongolia Medical Association and the Radiotherapy Physicians Branch of the Inner Mongolia Medical Doctor Association. He also serves as Director of the Inner Mongolia Radiotherapy Quality Control Center and is a recipient of the First "Bethune-style Good Doctor" Nomination Award and "People’s Good Doctor of Inner Mongolia" (2018). His clinical expertise encompasses radiotherapy and comprehensive treatment for malignancies including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, laryngeal cancer, brain tumors, lung cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, lymphoma, and benign diseases, with specialized proficiency in Gamma Knife therapy.

Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital is a state-owned public Grade III-A oncology hospital. The Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center, its second domestically developed heavy ion clinical application center, launched China’s second heavy ion therapy system on November 15, 2024. To date, the center has treated over 250 patients with photon and heavy ion therapy for conditions including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and glioblastoma. The hospital operates a comprehensive oncology treatment system with departments spanning radiotherapy, medical oncology/hematology, surgical oncology, integrated TCM-Western medicine rehabilitation, ICU, endoscopy, imaging, laboratory medicine, and hematology research.

Professor Yu’s regular engagement aligns with the hospital’s talent strategy, which has recruited global experts such as Prof. Tatsuaki Kanai (Gunma University, Japan), Prof. Hirohiko Tsujii (ex-Director of NIRS, Japan), Prof. Jörg Hauffe (ex-Munich Proton Center, Germany), Prof. Yasuo Yoshioka (National Cancer Center, Japan), Prof. György Kovács (University of Lübeck, Germany), Prof. Wu Dong-He (TMU Proton Center, Taiwan), and Prof. Wang Junjie (Chair of the Oncology Radiotherapy Committee, Chinese Medical Association). This integration of Eastern and Western expertise strengthens the center’s position as the world’s only hospital operating dual heavy ion systems.

Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center

Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital is a state-owned public tertiary Class A specialized oncology hospital. The Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center, the second heavy ion clinical application center with independent Chinese intellectual property rights operated by Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, commenced clinical operation on November 15, 2024, alongside the second Chinese heavy ion tumor treatment system—joining the first Chinese heavy ion treatment system. To date, the center has treated over 250 patients using photon and heavy ion therapies, covering conditions such as lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and glioblastoma.

The Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center has established an elite talent system, anchored by an expert workstation led by 50 top industry authorities, including Shen Wenjiang, Lifetime Honorary Professor of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Peking University Health Science Center, and Professor Xu Bo, Standing Committee Member of the Radiation Oncology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Professor Wang Junjie, Chairman of the Radiation Oncology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, serves as the center’s president, providing robust technical support for heavy ion therapy.

Additionally, the facility is equipped with a suite of cutting-edge medical devices, including the Varian VitalBeam medical linear accelerator, Elekta Infinity four-dimensional image-guided linear accelerator, 3.0T simulation and positioning MRI, GE 256-slice high-end CT, and Varian iridium-192 imported afterloader. These advanced hardware systems form a solid foundation for heavy ion therapy, ensuring both efficiency and precision in treatment delivery.

Aiming to establish a comprehensive, full-life-cycle oncology treatment system, the hospital operates specialized departments such as Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology/Hematology, Surgical Oncology, Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Oncology Rehabilitation, Critical Care Medicine, Digestive Endoscopy Center, Imaging, Laboratory Medicine, Ultrasound Medicine, Blood Bank, and Hematology Central Laboratory. It provides integrated treatments including photon radiotherapy, chemotherapy, heavy ion therapy, medical and surgical oncology, as well as diagnostic services such as imaging, laboratory testing, ultrasound, and bone marrow cytology examinations.